Grayling Visitors Bureau

Hartwick Pines State Park is hosting a variety of programs this Labor Day weekend, where campers and visitors are invited to learn about stars, trees, bogs, birds and lumber. Hartwick Pines encompasses an area of nearly 10,000 acres, making it the largest state park in Northern Lower Michigan. The park contains one of Michigan’s last stands of majestic old-growth pine forests, a hands-on visitors center and a Logging Museum.

Friday Sept. 3 at 2:00 p.m. learn about Hartwick Pines’ best kept secret: the bog. There will be a short presentation in the Visitor Center classroom then afterward, those who are interested can follow the naturalist in their cars and drive down to the bog to experience the rare wildflowers and carnivorous plants found in this unique ecosystem. This program lasts about 1 hour.

On Friday, Sept. 3 at 9 p.m. campers at Hartwick Pines State Park will have the chance to learn more about how our night sky: how to identify major constellations, some of the stories about how they got their names and much more about outer space. All families that participate will receive their very own star chart to take home with them. This star chart can be used year ’round as the chart can be moved to reflect the month and time of year in which the constellations overhead can be seen. This program lasts 1 hour.

Saturday, Sept. 4 at 3 p.m. meet in the Visitor Center and join Ranger Jim for “Tree-mendous” as he tells some interesting facts, legends and stories about two of Michigan’s most loved and most used trees: the eastern white pine and the red pine. This program lasts about 1 hour.

Sunday Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. watch baseball as it was played in the 1860s, with no gloves! The Hartwick Pines Swampers Vintage Base ball team will take on the Northville Eclipse Baseball Club. Seating is limited, so bring a blanket or a chair and claim your spot near the ball diamond is next to the picnic shelter.

Monday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. join Historian Rob Burg at the Hartwick Pines Logging Museum for “The Labor of Logging.” This 90-minute program introduces the various jobs in a 19th-century logging camp, the working conditions in a logging camp and the pay rate for these extremely tough jobs.

Monday Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. is “Beaks and Feet” at the Visitor Center. Birds in Michigan vary greatly in their plumage, behavior and songs. Much can be learned about a bird by observing their beaks and feet. Join Ranger Dale Marie for about one hour to learn more about how a bird’s beak and feet help them to survive in the avian world.

For more information, call (989) 348-2537 or visit www.michigan.gov/hartwickpines. or www.michigan.gov/dnrevisitorcenters and click on Michigan Forest Visitor Center and Logging Museum.

All state park interpretive programs are free for park visitors. However, all motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a 2010 Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the park entrance or online through the Michigan E-Store at www.michigan.gov/estore. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A non-resident annual is $29, and a non-resident daily is $8.

Beginning Oct. 1, the $10 Recreation Passport replaces the state park sticker for access into all state parks, recreation areas and boat launches. To get the Recreation Passport, Michigan residents can check “YES” on their license plate renewal forms. The Recreation Passport also helps preserve forest campgrounds and trails, historic and cultural sites in state parks, and local parks. Where can $10 take you? Visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport for more information.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state’s environment, natural resources and related economic interests for current and future generations. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/dnre.

Contact: Craig Kasmer or Rob Burg 989 348-2537 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014

How does the Doppler radar work?  Why do we still launch weather balloons?  What kind of computer equipment do forecasters use?  Why is the weather office for Northern Michigan located near Waters?   What kind of education do you need to work as a meteorologist?   What do forecasters do when the weather is quiet?

These and many other questions will be answered when the National Weather Service in Gaylord hosts an open house on September 18^th, between 9 am and Noon.  This event is free and everyone is welcome, including children and families.   Office tours will take place every 15 minutes and will include a comprehensive look at the local weather office, including a history of the NWS in Northern Michigan, an overview of NWS offices across the country, observing equipment, and computer forecast modeling.   There will also be upper air balloon releases every 30 minutes, kid’s games and a series of display boards focusing on extreme weather events across Northern Michigan.

This is an event that no weather enthusiast will want to miss.  I encourage you to make the trip to the National Weather Service Office in Gaylord on September 18^th.  Additional information on the Open House and directions to the office can be found at the NWS Gaylord website:

www.weather.gov/gaylord

A few interesting facts about the NWS Gaylord office:
Groundbreaking for the office:   September 26, 1994
Office officially opened:   September, 1995
Elevation of the office:  1,349 feet
Staff:  22 people
Estimated population covered by the NWS Gaylord office:   750,000 people
Number of Weather balloon releases each year:   730+

Questions about this event should be directed to the National Weather Service in Gaylord at 989-731-3384.

National Weather Service Office

Gaylord, Michigan

http://www.weather.gov/gaylord

Contact:   Jim Keysor
(989) 732-9306 (media only)
(989) 731-3384 (public number)
james.keysor@noaa.gov

Jeff Daniels

The Kirtland Center will present acclaimed actor, musician and playwright Jeff Daniels on Friday, August 12^th at 7pm at the Performing Arts Center on Kirtland’s main campus in Roscommon.  Jeff Daniels will perform the music of his lifetime which he has featured on two full length albums.

This will be Daniels second time performing on the Kirtland Center stage, with his first performance in 2008.  According to the Detroit Free Press “The man can sing, the man can play the guitar, the man can write a song.”  His honest, sincere, and relatable approach to songwriting allows us all to be reminded of our own lives, our own hopes, and our own dreams.

Raised in Michigan, Daniels has been a professional stage and film actor for thirty four years, with over 40 films under his belt.  He has had Drama Desk and Tony nominations, as well as being awarded the Drama League Award and an Obie Award.  In 1991, Daniels established the Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, Michigan, a not-for-profit professional theatre featuring Midwestern actors, directors, playwrights and designers.

Ticket prices for the August 12^th performance will be $34 and $32.  There are senior (55+), student, group and family discounts available.  Call the Ticket Office at 989-275-6777 for details.  Tickets can also be purchased online at www.kirtlandcenter.com . Child care will also be available at the Children’s Learning Center on campus from 6 pm through the end of the show, please call the Ticket Office to make reservations.  Free shuttle service provided between the parking lot and theatre from 6 pm and after the show.  The performance is sponsored in part by WCMU.

Kirtland Community College

News Release

Subject: Jeff Daniels returns to the Kirtland Center Stage

Office: PR   Contact: Beth Petrik at 989-275-5000, ext. 397

Date: Monday, July 18, 2011     For Release: Immediately

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Robin Spielberg is one of America’s most beloved pianist/composers. Treat Mom to a special event for Mother’s Day at the Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts on May 7, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Papa Doo Run Run presents a tribute to the Beach Boys at the Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts on April 9, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Steve Smith, star of “The Red Green Show” on PBS, will have you laughing all evening as he brings his show to the Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts on February 12, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

On Friday, January 28^th at 7pm violinist Gabriel Bolkosky with pianist Michelle Cooker will be performing classical violin music in the Gilbert Stewart Auditorium on the campus of Kirtland Community College.

“We are looking forward to hearing Gabriel perform on our stage.  He will be performing classical works by Debussy and Bach during the first half and after intermission more contemporary selections by Bartok, Gershwin and Bolcom.” Don Wray, the Director of the KCPA, also noted that “Gabriel’s talent and musicianship has made his performance here something that I hope will be well received by those attending. This is a part of our classical series that has brought other talent to our stage over that past few years including The Ahn Trio and Paul Vandizino”.

Bolkosky is a sought-after guest, performer, and teacher at schools and workshops throughout North America, including Harvard, Dartmouth, Brandeis and Princeton and many Suzuki Institutes. In Ann Arbor, Bolkosky directs one of the Phoenix Ensembles signature events, PhoenixPhest!, an annual amateur chamber-music festival held each May, and maintains a private violin studio. This past fall Gabe was Guest Artist at the University of Michigan with the Phoenix Quartet.  He has served as guest artist at many workshops and schools around the country including Harvard, Brandeis, Dartmouth, Princeton, the University of Michigan, the Walden School and the Aspen Music Festival.

Gabriel is the executive director and founding member of The Phoenix Ensemble, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping artists and educational institutions. Through this organization and other projects, he has worked with great composers such as William Bolcom, John Harbison, Thomas Ades, George Tsontakis, Bernard Rands, Sydney Hodkinson, Derek Bermel, Ned McGovern and Christopher Rouse. He has also worked with such great artists as Peter Salaff, Martha Katz and members of the Cavani String Quartet.

Tickets for this event are $16/$14 and are available online at www.kirtlandcenter.com or through the ticket office at 989-275-6777. Student and senior discounts are available.

The Children’s Learning Center will be open for child care and free shuttle service will also be provided from the parking lot. Call the ticket office for more information.

Gabriel’s performance is sponsored in part by The Kirtland Foundation and Eagle 101.5.

Kirtland Community College

News Release

10775 N. St. Helen Road Roscommon, MI  48653 989-275-5000

www.kirtland.edu

Subject: Violinist to perform on Kirtland Stage

Office: PR   Contact: Beth Petrik at 989-275-5000, ext. 397

Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2011     For Release: Immediately

the Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts

Jim Witter will be performing at the Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts on December 4, 2010, at 7:00 p.m.

Step Afrika will be performing at the Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts on November 20, 2010, beginning at 7:00 p.m.